File photo … the Blues (chequered jerseys) take on France in Auckland. Photo courtesy ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
All Blacks veteran and Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea is the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.
And the ACT Brumbies now lead the 2025 Super Rugby competition after their 24-14 win over Queensland in Canberra on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Savea polled 42 votes with two weeks left to go in the regular season. ACT Brumby Tom Hooper is ranked second on 31 votes and Chiefs All Blacks Damian McKenzie is third on 28 votes.
In Savea’s 10 games for the Auckland-based Pacific composite team, he scored five tries, ran over 350 metres, made 110 tackles and won 15 turnovers of the ball.
Moana Pasifika are in sixth position on the competition table and need one more win to lock in a historic finals appearance.
“Ardie’s passionate leadership and dominant performances for Moana Pasifika this year have made an indelible mark on his team-mates, his opponents and our competition as a whole,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley says.
“He received votes from the opposition in almost every game he has played this season which reflects the consistency of his output and influence on his team.”
The award is voted on by players and coaches.
“We are delighted that Ardie Savea is the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year,” Mesley says.
Meanwhile, former Wallaby and Qld player James O’Connor may have played his way into contention for the Lions tour.
O’Connor came onto the field to help the Crusaders end NSW’s finals hopes and lock in a top-six place in the finals.
While the Brumbies lead the standings, they have only one game left in the season and are likely to be overtaken by NZ’s Chiefs and Crusaders, who are both two points behind them but will each play two more games.
GAMES ROUNDED UP
- Moana knocked defending champions and cross-town neighbours Blues out of a knockout qualification place with an upset 27-21 win on Saturday.
- Qld could slip out of the top four after their defeat with only two home games left.
- The WA Force’s finals hopes ended after a 38-7 loss to the Drua in Lautoka, Fiji, on Saturday.
- On Friday, the Hurricanes scored a crucial 24-20 win over the Highlanders in Wellington to keep their finals hopes alive.
- NSW’s finals hopes ended in Sydney on Friday with a 48-33 defeat to the Christchurch-based Crusaders.
